I made the same decision over a decade ago, to forgo an intensely competitive academic career to spend more time with my young family. My kids are now grown up and my job as a father is done, and I feel like I've enjoyed a level and kind of success that my more career-oriented peers can't even imagine (if they could, they'd be pursuing it!)
There are all kinds of alternative opportunities once we open our eyes to them: I ended up founding and running a scientific consulting company that let me earn a good living and spend far more time with my kids than any conventional career.
Best of luck!

I am no longer a part of Stack Exchange. I still have much literal and figurative stock in the success of Stack Exchange, of course, but as of March 1st I will no longer be part of the day to day operations of the company, or the Stack Exchange sites, in any way. It's been almost exactly 4 ...